At the time of writing, it’s already February – a month into 2025! It just goes to show how quickly time can pass.
When running a business, things get busy and before we know it, we’re already well into the year. Because of this, it’s easy to forget basic maintenance or administrative tasks. Ones of these tasks is yearly pallet racking inspections. According to AS4084:23, pallet racking needs to be inspected at least every 12 months. Once inspected, any defects or damage need to be rectified or repaired before the pallet racking is certified for another 12 months.
We usually say that the beginning of the year is a good time to check when your pallet racking needs to be inspected again. From there you can set a reminder or book yourself in for an inspection.
Why Does Pallet Racking Need To Be Inspected Every 12 Months?
The short answer is safety.
In a busy warehouse or industrial environment, pallet racking can be subject to ware and tare as well as general accidental damage. If this damage goes unnoticed, it can get worse overtime, leading to permanent damage to the pallet racking and dangers such as pallet racking collapse.
Going further, while warehouses should never overload pallet racking, mistakes happen. This can lead to bending and warping of beams which, over time, can cause the pallet racking to become unstable. This is another good reason to get pallet racking inspected. It’s also a good reminder to not overload your racking.
What Happens At A Pallet Racking Inspection?
Pallet racking inspections are quite simple. The inspector isn’t there to try and catch you out or get your business in trouble. They’re there to help make sure you and your warehouse employees are safe and, if they find a problem, they want to help you fix the problem.
With that in mind, during the inspection, your pallet racking inspection will look closely at all aspects of your pallet racking, rating it on a variety of metrics. From there, they’ll advise what needs to be fixed immediately, what’s fine, and what you may want to keep an eye on for the future.
A lot of the time, pallet racking inspectors find no issues with the pallet racking and are able to certify it right away. Sometimes there is some minor damage that needs to be repaired before certification can take place. In very rare circumstances are there any large issues.
What Happens If I Don’t Get My Pallet Racking Inspected?
As mentioned, pallet racking in Australia needs to be inspected every 12 months. This is to ensure the safety of the pallet racking and to keep a generally safe warehouse overall.
If you don’t get your pallet racking inspected regularly and there’s an accident or safety issue related to the business’ failure to have their racking properly inspected and fixed, business owners could be found responsible. From there, penalties vary depending on the scope of the issue.
So, all in all, don’t avoid getting your racking inspected.
Get In Touch To Arrange A Pallet Racking Inspection
If it’s nearly time for your next pallet racking inspection, or you don’t even know when your last inspection was, get in touch with us right away. We can inspect your racking and also do any repairs necessary to ensure it complies with the relevant Australian standards.
